Capital District:

Trout And Turkeys
Now is the time

By Ed Noonan

Finally the long awaited opening of the New York State trout season (April 1) is here. And believe me, I have seen just about enough snow, ice and freezing cold days for this winter.

Here in the Capital District area we are fortunate to have some very good trout waters within minutes of us, and what makes it even better is that quite a few trout are stocked in most of these waters in March and April. Last year they stocked 2.39 million catchable-sized trout. These included 436,000 rainbows, 154,000 brook and 1.8 million  browns in 300 lakes and ponds and about 3,100 miles of streams across the state. Included in this stocking were over 150,000 two-year old brown trout, some as large as 15 inches.  And they will be stocking again this year.

As one who has never missed the opening day of the trout season I will spend at least the first week on the Kayadrosseras Creek. This popular creek, which flows through much of Saratoga County, has its headwaters in the town of Corinth, and winds its way through Greenfield, Milton, Malta, Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs, and finally empties into Saratoga Lake. This creek usually receives approximately 13,000 brown trout, 60 percent of which are usually stocked in March. These fish average 8-9 inches but there is also a generous number of the 12-15 inchers as well.

Another creek that is also a popular destination early in the trout season, and really throughout the year, is the Kinderhook Creek which flows through Columbia and Rensselaer Counties. It too receives several thousand browns in the spring. Other popular creeks include East Canada Creek in Fulton County and Schoharie Creek in Greene County. 

Early Techniques

The April trout angler is usually faced with some difficult conditions. Waters are generally muddy and swift and therefore, if you are going to entice a trout out from behind an underwater rock, deep pocket, or undercut bank you need to get your easy-to-see offering down to them.  Using flashy spinners will work, but it seems that the best choice, especially early in the season, is a garden worm.

Attach a 6-foot 4-pound test fluorocarbon leader with No. 8 model 181 Eagle Claw barbed hook to your main line with a two-way swivel. To get the bait down you will need to add weight. Begin with a 1/16th-ounce split shot a few inches above the swivel and add more as needed. You want to have just enough weight to rest on the bottom and allow the rig to work with the current. As a reminder, you are not allowed to use any weight one half-ounce or less that is made of lead.

To make your worm the most visible get a jar of dip-it in chartreuse coloring and dip your worm in it before that first cast.

There is one other method that I have found and usually works for me—using salted or regular small minnows. Using a large needle, thread the fluorocarbon leader through the minnow in the mouth and out just below the tail. Then tie on a No. 14 treble hook. Sinker placement is the same as mentioned above, and I tip the tail in the chartreuse dip-it also. 

Turkey Tricks

While you are out there driving the rural roads looking for good trout waters don’t forget what next month is—turkey time. And this is the month to be walking in the woods lining up your date for the morning of May 1, the opening of the NYS wild turkey season.  The toms are still working on setting up their pecking order but you should also be seeing many of them practicing their  strutting routines around groups of hens. Bring your binoculars and write down what you are seeing, as well as where and when. Just don’t forget to be sure you have owner permission before going after them.

Also, I would not recommend doing any calling to the birds right now. Do your practicing at home, in the car, etc. Wait until you have that shotgun across your knees next month before you call.

Ed Noonan is an accomplished sportsmen and outdoor writer with an extensive knowledge of New York’s extended Capital District.